Setting up trading and battling were time-consuming and clunky in previous games, but X and Y have integrated it all into experience. It's compelling and social without being obtrusive. When a friend is in need, you can even provide them with temporary buffs to help them out. (Player Search System), which includes a list of your active friends and nearby players, all of whom can be interacted with in a matter of taps. While the franchise has always had an emphasis on playing with friends, no Pokemon game has truly embraced connectivity like X and Y have.

You're still going to want to do it, because the Mega Evolutions are way too visually impressive to ignore, but don't expect much bite with the bark. The only restriction in place is that you can only Mega Evolve one fighter per battle, but that's hardly enough to make a huge strategic difference. Certain Pokémon can temporarily evolve mid-battle, and will have different stats than they would in their regular form, but there's rarely a compelling reason not to use the ability since there's no real negative to it. Horde battles pit you against a slew of low-level Pokémon at once, which just ends up feeling annoying rather than compelling, and Sky Battles happen so infrequently that you might forget they even exist. While none of the changes feel like they take away from the game, there are some that simply don't live up to their potential. From the protagonists-both of whom can be customized with different outfits and hairstyles-to the caves and dungeons, X and Y shows off some of the best visuals on the handheld, where previous games have mostly looked subdued. The jump to 3D makes for beautiful, lifelike environments in a franchise that has never been all that aesthetically ambitious. Thankfully, Pokémon X and Y works hard to make you feel like a part of its universe. It feels random at times, which is sure to enrage the kind of fan that takes the statistical side of Pokémon hyper seriously, but it's entrancing for those willing to allow themselves to be immersed in the charming world. Having your Sylveon survive not one, but two attacks after being at one hitpoint just because it loves you so damn much makes a compelling case for being friends with the little guys. Pocket monsters that have high affection for you (as gained by minigames and the newly added ability to pet your Pokémon) will simply perform better-they'll dodge attacks and land critical hits and shrug off status effects more often. It matters in combat, when you're battling 3D Pokémon against other 3D Pokémon.

Pokemon x and y the game